... a weekly letter of encouragement.
8 July, 1998<
Good Morning!
ALICE AND THE MAD HATTER
Yesterday I had lunch with a friend who said the wheels were
coming off his personal and professional life as he struggles
to jugggggle all the balls in the air. His life, he said, seemed
to consist of one mad rush to keep up with the rest of the
pack.
As he talked, I was reminded of a scene at Disneyland where Alice
in Wonderland dances with the Mad Hatter. Actually, it is only
an illusion inventively created with lights and mirrors.
A hologram.
We live in a world of holograms - where Christians are
often caught in an enslaving scramble to keep up with those smooth
characters who seem to be two or three steps above us
on the professional, social, economic or educational ladder...Just
out of our reach...
From our vantage point, "THEY HAVE ARRIVED,"
while the rest of us mortals, (who are numbly unaware that the
hologram is only an illusion of reality) sweat, scrabble,
and puff, to get where we think they are, as we spend money we
do not have to purchase things we do not need, in order to impress
people we do not like.
TALK ABOUT ENSLAVEMENT!
So why are we chasing the holograms in our frentic pursuit
to "arrive". BeAUSE WE LOVE WHAT WE PERCEIVE
TO BE THEIR "DESIGNER" LIFESTYLES: There
are never any holes in their socks; their
teen-age kids are never plagued with acne, and there is never
a cash flow problem in their business. And they always
vacation in the exotic spots. In blissful harmony, of
course.
The true disciple of Jesus who is walking by faith however,
sees through the holograms to the reality of the eternal,
("we walk by faith, not by sight" -- II Cor.
5:7) and as such is increasingly becoming a "stranger"
and "pilgrim" on the earth -- out of step (and
sorts) with societies' fixation on the revered hologram:
"These people...living by faith...admitted
that they were aliens and strangers on earth...(and were) looking
for a country of their own...longing for a better country--a heavenly
one." (Hebrews 11:13,
14a)
QUESTION: Judging by your lifestyle, would you
say that you are captivated by the illusive and illusionary holograms?
Or by a vision of the eternal? How would the folks next door
answer that question of you?
My prayer is that you are having a great week!
1 Coleman Street #02-34, The Adelphi - Singapore 0617
Phone: 337 6498; Fax: 336 9913
© Copyright 1996 Dwight Hill. Unlimited permission to copy or
use is hereby granted subject to inclusion of this copyright notice.
